Blender base

ABSTRACT

A blender base is generally described. The blender base includes a base frame. An outer shell may be connected to the base frame. A motor housing is supported by the base frame and positioned inside the outer shell. The motor housing is isolated from direct connection with the outer shell to reduce the transfer of noise and vibration from the motor to the outer shell.

BACKGROUND

Loud noise in both household and commercial blenders has been an issue.Blenders may be designed for home use or for commercial use, andtypically perform a mixing function for a drink or other food. Whenutilized in businesses, such as restaurants or coffee shops, the blenderis often positioned adjacent to a serving or dining area so that thefood or drinks may be prepared as ordered. When so placed, the soundemitted by the blender can disturb or distract customers as it processesor mixes a drink.

The motor is a direct source of noise when in operation, and also is anindirect source of noise due to the vibration it creates within thebase. The vibrations created by the operating motor cause the baseitself, and other components within the base, to vibrate, therebygenerating additional noise. Further, noise and vibration from the motormay be translated to other components of the base, such as the shell orenclosure. Vibrations translated from the motor to the base shell causethe shell to act as a sound amplifier.

Furthermore, the cooling air flowing through the blender base canamplify the loud motor sound. Cooling air is typically provided to themotor within the base to prevent overheating. This cooling air may bedrawn in through an air inlet and forced out of the base through an airexhaust. The airflow exiting the base of the food processor carries theloud noise created during operation of the blender to the exterior ofthe base, effectively amplifying the sound.

Various methods have been used to reduce the sound created by a blender.One such method includes providing a sound enclosure around thecontainer of the food processor to contain the noise created by themixing being performed. This method of noise reduction, however, failsto address the noise created by the blender. Also, previous attemptshave been made to provide a baffle within the base to suppress the noisecarried by the cooling airflow. These attempts, however, have beenineffective for various reasons, including complexity of the design anddifficulty in manufacturing.

Therefore, the need exists for addressing the root issue: reducingblender base noise within the base itself.

SUMMARY

A blender base having one or more design components to reduce noise isgenerally described. The blender base includes a base frame. A motorhousing is supported by the base frame. An outer shell may be connectedto the base frame. The motor housing is isolated from any directconnection with the outer shell to reduce or even eliminate the transferof noise and vibration from the motor to the shell.

In an embodiment the base frame includes one or more inlet ports, one ormore exhaust ports, a base plate and a fan chamber. The base plate sealsthe air gap created between the base frame and a supporting surface. Theexhaust ports may lead to air passages in the base frame. The airpassages provide a pathway for exhaust air from the fan chamber to exitthe blender base through the exhaust ports.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects and advantages together with the operation of the invention maybe better understood by reference to the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of a blender base.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of a base frame.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a base frame.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a base frame.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of a base frame.

FIG. 6 illustrates a first perspective cross sectional view of a blenderbase.

FIG. 7 illustrates a second perspective cross sectional view of ablender base.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top perspective view of a base frame.

FIG. 9 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a base frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a blender base 10 as shown in FIGS.1-9. The blender base 10 is generally configured to support a blendercontainer (not shown) and facilitate rotation of a blending blade on theblender container.

The blender base 10 may include a base frame 12. The base frame 12 maybe any appropriate shape, size or configuration, such as generallyrectangular or square. The base frame 12 may be made of any appropriatematerial, such as molded plastic or the like. The base frame 12 mayinclude features designed to facilitate airflow through the blender base10. For example, the base frame 12 may include hollow portions, ridgedportions and openings, as will be described in further detail, to createair gaps and pathways to direct the flow of air through the blender base10.

The base frame 12 may include one or more feet 14. The feet 14 may beany appropriate size or shape and may be located at any appropriateposition about the base frame 12, such as disposed about the bottomsurface of the base frame 12. The feet 14 may engage a surface thatsupports the blender base 10 to stabilize and level the base frame 12.The feet may be composed of any appropriate material, such as rubber.

A base frame 12 may include a base plate 16. (FIGS. 6-7.) The base plate16 may be any appropriate shape, size or configuration, such asrectangular, square or designed to generally correspond to the shape ofthe base frame 12. The base plate 16 may connect to a bottom portion ofthe base frame 12 to seal the air gap between the surface supporting theblender base 10 and an interior portion of the base frame 12. The baseplate 16 may be positioned inside of the feet 14 to allow the feet 14 todirectly contact the supporting surface while still sealing the air gap.

The base frame 12 may include an air inlet port 18 to receive air intothe blender base 10. (FIGS. 8-9.) The inlet port 18 may be anyappropriate size or shape and may be located at any appropriate positionon the base frame 12. For example, the base frame 12 may include asingle inlet port 18 located at a rear portion of the base frame 12. Inan embodiment, the inlet port 18 may be centered along a rear side of afour-sided base frame 12. (FIG. 5). The inlet port 18 may include one ormore apertures. The aperture or apertures may be covered by a grill 20to prevent large debris from entering the blender base 10. The inletport 18 may allow ambient air to enter the blender base 10 and coolinternal components.

The base frame 12 may include one or more diffusers 22. (FIGS. 4-5.) Thediffusers 22 may be any appropriate size or shape and may be located atany appropriate position on the base frame 12. For example, the baseframe 12 may include two or exhaust ports or diffusers 22. A firstdiffuser 22 may be located on a first side of the base frame 12 and asecond diffusers 22 may be located on a second side of the base frame 12opposite the first side.

Each diffusers 22 may comprise an opening leading to an air passageway24. The diffuser opening may extend between a first end 23 and a secondend 25. The diffuser 22 may be slanted in shape to facilitate diffusingof the exhaust air. For example, a first end 23 of the diffuser 22positioned nearest front of the base frame 12 may be smaller than thesecond end 25 to form a slanted shape. The exiting exhaust air may reachthe first end 23 before it reaches the second end 25 of the exhaustport. The slanted shape of the diffuser 22 helps to diffuse the exhaustpressure and reduces noise and vibration.

The passageways 24 may be defined on one side by a curved wall 26 and onthe other side by a back wall 28 of the base frame 12. The passageways24 may be any appropriate size or shape. In an embodiment, thepassageways 24 may extend generally linearly into the base frame 12. Thepassageways 24 may intersect at an interior point in the base frame 12and may further form a circular pathway about other portions of the baseframe 12.

The base frame 12 may include a fan chamber 30. (FIGS. 1 and 7.) The fanchamber 30 may be any appropriate size or shape, such as generallycylindrical and configured to house a fan. The fan chamber 30 may belocated at any appropriate position on the base frame 12, such asgenerally centered on the base frame 12. The fan chamber 30 may comprisea top wall 32, a bottom wall 34 and a fan opening 36. The top wall 32generally may be curved to form an interior concave surface about theupper perimeter of the fan chamber 30. The top wall 32 may be integrallyformed with the base frame 12. The fan opening 36 may be located in thetop wall 32 to provide access between the fan chamber 30 and otherportions of the blender base 10. The fan opening 36 may be anyappropriate size or shape, such as circular, and may be located at anyappropriate position on the top wall 32, such as centered on the topwall 32.

The bottom wall 34 may form the bottom surface of the fan chamber 30.The bottom wall 34 may be any appropriate size and shape, such asgenerally circular and configured to engage the top wall 32. The bottomwall 34 may be removable from the fan chamber 30 to provide serviceaccess to the fan chamber 30. For example, the bottom wall 34 may beconnected to the top wall by one or more fasteners 38, such as a screw,or by any other connecting means known in the art. It will beappreciated, however, that the bottom wall 34 may be integrally formedwith the top wall 32 or otherwise connected thereto.

The bottom wall 34 may include one or more fan vents 40. The fan vents40 may be any appropriate size or shape, such as arced or semi-circularopenings, and may be located at any appropriate position on the bottomwall 34, such as disposed about the perimeter of the bottom wall 34. Thefan vents 40 may allow air to pass between the fan chamber 30 and otherportions of the base frame 12, such as the air passageways 24 anddiffusers 22.

The blender base 10 may include a motor 42 generally disposed inside amotor housing 44. The motor housing 44 may be located at any appropriateposition, such as generally above the base frame 12. The housing 44 maybe generally aligned with the fan chamber 30. The motor housing 44 maycomprise a plurality of side walls 46. The side walls 46 may be anyappropriate size or shape, such as generally rectangular. The side walls46 may connect to form an interior volume and may surround the motor 42and any related motor components.

The motor housing 44 may include a choke plate or floor plate 48. Thefloor plate 48 may be any appropriate size or shape and may connect to abottom portion of the side walls 46. For example, the side walls 46 mayinclude a flanged portion 50 that may engage the floor plate 48. Thefloor plate 48 may include an opening 52. The opening 52 may be anyappropriate size and shape, such as square or circular. The opening 52may be generally aligned with the fan opening 36 to provide accessbetween the interior of the motor housing 44 and the fan chamber 30.

The floor plate 48 may be configured to facilitate airflow between themotor housing 44 and the fan chamber 30. To that end, the floor plate 48may include a tapered surface 54 proximate to the opening 52. Thetapered surface 54 may be curved or slanted toward the fan chamber 30.The tapered surface 54 may extend up to or into the fan opening 36.

The blender base 10 may include a bottom gasket 56. The bottom gasket 56may be any appropriate size and shape, and may be located at anyappropriate position, such as between the motor housing 44 and the baseframe 12. The bottom gasket 56 may absorb noise and vibration emitted bythe motor 42 and motor housing 44 and may isolate the motor housing 44from the base frame 12.

The motor 42 may be positioned within the motor housing 44. The motor 42may be any type of motor known in the industry, such as an electric ACmotor. The motor 42 may include a shaft 58. The shaft 58 may be anyappropriate size or shape, as is known in the industry. The motor 42 mayrotate the shaft 58 to facilitate rotation of other components of theblender base 10.

A fan 60 may be connected to the shaft 58, such as at the end of theshaft 58. The fan 60 may be positioned within the fan chamber 30. Thefan 60 may rotated by the motor 42 to facilitate air flow through theblender base 10, thereby cooling the motor 42 and other relatedcomponents. The fan may be positioned within the fan chamber 30 to abutthe tapered portion 54 of the floor plate 48. (FIG. 1).

A shaft coupler 62 may be connected to the shaft 58. The shaft coupler62 may be connected at any appropriate position along the shaft 58, suchas at an end of the shaft opposite the fan 60. The shaft coupler 62 maybe connectable to a blade axis of a blender container. For example, theshaft coupler 62 may include an opening to receive or otherwise connectto the blade axis of a blender container. The shaft coupler 62 may bedriven by the shaft 58 to rotate the blade axis of the blendercontainer, thereby facilitating rotation of the blender blade.

The blender base 10 may include an outer shell 64 generally disposedabout its outer surface. The outer shell 64 may be composed of anyappropriate material, such as molded plastic or the like. The outershell 64 may be any appropriate size or shape, such as generally concaveforming a hollow interior. The outer shell 64 may surround and protectthe working parts of the blender base 10.

The outer shell 64 may be supported by the base frame 12. For example,the base frame 12 may include a clasp portion 66. The clasp portion 66may be positioned at or near the perimeter of the base frame 12. Theclasp portion 66 may comprise a hooked or angled portion extending abovethe surface of the base frame 12. A latch portion 65 of the outer shell64 may be configured to engage the clasp portion 66 to support andmaintain the outer shell 64 at a desired position.

The outer shell 64 may include an air vent 68. The air vent 68 maycomprise one or more slots or openings in the outer shell 64. The airvent 68 may be any appropriate size and shape. The air vent 68 may allowair to flow between the interior of the outer shell 64 and the exteriorenvironment.

The outer shell 64 may include a pedestal 70. The pedestal 70 may be anyappropriate size or shape, such as generally square. The pedestal 70 maybe configured to receive and support a blender container. For example,the pedestal 70 may include one or more protrusions 72 to engage andposition a portion of the blender container. The pedestal 70 may includea central opening 73. The shaft coupler 62 may protrude from the centralopening 73.

The motor housing 44 may be isolated from the outer shell 64 and thebase frame 12 to reduce noise and vibration of the blender base 10. Themotor 42 may emit vibrations and other noise. This noise and vibrationmay be amplified by the hollow opening provided by the outer shell 64 orthe open spaces provided by the base frame 12. Therefore, reducing theamount of vibration and noise that is transferred from the motor 42 tothe outer shell 64 or the base frame 12 may greatly reduce the overallnoise output of the blender base 10. To that end, the motor 42 and motorhousing 44 may be isolated from direct connection with the outer shell64 and base frame 12 to reduce amplification of noise and vibration.

In an embodiment, the motor housing 44 is isolated from any directconnection with the outer shell 64 and the pedestal 70. The pedestal 70may include one or more posts 71 to interconnect to a portion of themotor housing 44. For example, the pedestal 70 may include four posts 71arranged to be supported by an upper portion of the motor housing 44.The posts 71 may provide the only connection between the pedestal 70 andthe motor housing 44. One or more upper gaskets 74 may be positionedabout the motor housing 44. The upper gaskets 74 may comprise a grommetpositioned between the post 71 and a corresponding connecting portion ofthe motor housing 44. The upper gaskets 74 may be any appropriate sizeor shape and may be composed of any appropriate material, such asrubber. The upper gasket 74 may absorb noise and vibration to reduce thetransfer of noise and vibration from the motor 42 and motor housing 44to the outer shell 64.

Noise and vibration may be transferred through components such asfasteners, screws and bolts. In an embodiment, the blender base 10 maybe configured without any fasteners, screws, bolts or other componentsthat directly interconnect the outer shell 64 or pedestal 70 to themotor housing 44. Thus, the motor housing 44 may be isolated from anydirect connection with the outer shell 64. Further, the motor housing 44may be isolated from any direct interconnection with the outer shell 64or pedestal 70 other than through the upper gaskets 74 or bottom gasket56.

The blender base 10 may include a control panel (not shown). The controlpanel may allow a user to selectively control the motor 42, such asturning the motor 42 on and off and selecting motor speeds. The controlpanel may include a display, on/off switch, speed controls, and othercontrols necessary to control the motor functions.

In operation, a user may turn on the blender base to initiate rotationof the motor 42. The motor may rotate the shaft 58, which in turn mayrotate the shaft coupler 62 and the fan 60. The fan 60 may draw air intothe blender base 10, such as through the inlet port 18. Air may flowthrough the interior of the blender base 10 and through the motorhousing 44 to cool the motor 42 and motor related components. The fanchamber 30 may receive air from the motor housing 44 and exhaust the airthrough the base frame 12. For example, the fan 60 may force air out ofthe fan chamber 30 through fan vents 40 in the bottom wall 34. Theexhaust air may flow through around the curved walls 26 in the baseframe 12 and through the passageways 24 to the diffusers 22.

The embodiments of the invention have been described above and,modifications and alternations will occur to others upon reading andunderstanding this specification. The claims as follows are intended toinclude all modifications and alterations insofar as they come withinthe scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof.

1. A blender base comprising: a base frame; a motor housing supported bysaid base frame; an outer shell supported by said base frame; a pedestalsupported by said motor housing; wherein said motor housing is isolatedfrom direct connection with said outer shell.
 2. The blender base ofclaim 1, wherein said motor housing is isolated from direct contact withsaid base frame.
 3. The blender base of claim 1 wherein said motorhousing is isolated from direct contact with said pedestal
 4. Theblender base of claim 3 further comprising an upper gasket positionedbetween said motor housing and said pedestal.
 5. The blender base ofclaim 1 further comprising a bottom gasket positioned between said motorhousing and said base frame.
 6. The blender base of claim 1, whereinsaid motor housing is isolated from direct interconnection with the baseframe.
 7. A blender base comprising: a base frame comprising: an inletport; one or more outlet ports; a base plate; and a fan chambercomprising an upper wall having a generally curved cross section; amotor housing supported by said base frame; a motor disposed within saidmotor housing; and an outer shell connected to said base frame.
 8. Theblender base of claim 7, wherein said fan chamber is generallycylindrical.
 9. The blender base of claim 7, wherein said fan chambercomprises a bottom plate.
 10. The blender base of claim 9, wherein saidbottom plate is removably connected to said fan chamber.
 11. The blenderbase of claim 9 further comprising a fan vent in said bottom plate. 12.The blender base of claim 7, wherein said base plate is configured toseal the air gap formed between the base frame and a surface supportingthe blender base.
 13. The blender base of claim 7, wherein said baseframe comprises a first exhaust port connected to a first air passagewayand a second exhaust port connected to a second air passageway.
 14. Theblender base of claim 13, wherein said first and second air passagewaysare defined by a first and second curved wall and a back wall of saidbase frame.
 15. The blender base of claim 7 further comprising a fanpositioned within said fan chamber.
 16. The blender base of claim 7,wherein a bottom wall of said motor housing includes a flanged portionextending into an opening in said fan chamber.
 17. The blender base ofclaim 16, wherein said flanged portion is curved.
 18. The blender baseof claim 7 further comprising a shaft coupler connected to said shaft.